Yesterday over lunch with some new friends I was asked if any old flames would be attending an up and coming event of mine. After a brief pause to flip through my mental guest list I realised no. I also realised that 6 out of the last 7 men that I have dated and/or interested in are now married*. This morning I got a round robin email from the seventh - to say that he and his new gf are having a baby.
*Only counting the still living ones obviously.
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Yep, have arrived in the south of Thailand, first thoughts - gosh this island is so much more commercialised since I was last here (2 years ago) and almost unreconisable from when I was first here in 1999.
But the place I'm staying is still child free (hurrah) mostly non smoking in the restaurant (hurrah hurrah) and just as chilled as ever. The chilled watermelon juice present at reception was just as lush as I remembered and the coconut ice cream I had for supper even better.
Today I walked into town to check out what had changed - many things! There is even a McD here now which makes me sad, its probably the last time I'll come here, but to be honest its time I found another bolt-hole in Thailand.
Visit into town resulted in 2 icky observations, I went to a respectable looking place for a foot massage, it was respectable, but the Aussie man separated from me only by a flimsy curtain really did his best to talk his girl into giving him a 'happy ending', it really made me feel rather uncomfortable to listen to him offer her more and more money and try and sweet talk her into giving him a tug at the end of his hour massage. This conversation was going on just 3 ft from the bed I was on, and the girl was talking really quietly, he however was not, he was being extremely arrogant. I left before he did. My girl was great and was really rather embarrassed, kept turning the music up to cover the sound of oil on flesh slapping noises.
After that I stopped at a bar/restaurant for some early lunch (yes it was only 11am) and another westerner of a certain age came in, he sat nearby and invited the waitress to join him for something to eat, she declined, he tried to talk her into it, then spoke to the chief waiter and said "I'm looking for a girlfriend for a few days - will she come with me?". The waiter said no. The customer paid up his bill and left.
There are thousands of whores in this country who are willing to put up with the old, fat and disgusting white man pawing at them, why can't these men let the waitress etc go about her job without being made to feel for sale.
Still it was a very quick reminder of the white man's attitude here in Asia, the man who travels to Thailand alone doesn't stay alone for very long.
Now however I'm heading off to meet some friends for supper and drink a toast to those with some integrity in the world.
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The couple who walk hand in hand along the road every morning, usually chatting away to each other with animated faces. Today they walk silently, arms carefully held away from each other, no chance of an accidental touch.
The 6 year old who skips to the bus stop holding the hand of her father, full of giggles and conversation. On the days when she walks with her mother she is quiet and careful, her mother quizzing her on her spelling practise.
The much older man, who smells gorgeous. He walks past me every day.
Another couple, he in a business suit pulling deeply on his smokes. She in gym clothes with a large bottle of water in her hand. They never speak, but always walk side by side.
The older man standing waiting for the bus, but never at the bus stop. He waits a little down the road until it approaches, only then does he walk to join the others standing there.
The young woman walking the dog, he stops and does a poo every single morning at the same corner, as he squats she puts a plastic bag under his bum, he poos straight into the bag that she throws straight in the rubbish bin - she doesn't even tie a knot in the bag.
The young man who leaves his house as I walk past, we make eye contact now and say good morning. Today he remarked he was running late.
